goddess made incarnate on the ground, in whose name&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp the avid mortal watching her was torn apart. Where was his name? Where was his flower?

A cloud paused in the spring sky, and there came to us then,&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp on the path, another blossoming.Radiant in mauve, head to toe, back braced

as though to balance the weight of full breasts, one hand,&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp gloved, lifted, unthinking to petthe back of the hair, the hair itself a lacquered helmet.

And what should we make of her height, her heft, the size of the &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp feet,&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp the gruff swagger in the gait:we stared outright — it seemed all right to stare, like

Linnaeus, who’d ranked the stones, and sorted the plants by how&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp they propagate and colonizedwhatever crawls and swims and flies and bears live young?

Light by which I’ve lived, the wish to name, to know,&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp the work of it, the cost of it — if only I could be, or want to be, more like

that boy: ignorant, stunned, human.&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp “Acteon,” you said,&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp by his own hounds torn asunder. And sothe brief shadow flickered and dissolved: the world

was ours again, the world like this, made less confused.&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp And we strolled like kings back down the path,past a redbud tree in plush white bloom.